After the Last Goodbye (14).

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 "I thought, family members don't hurt each other. I'd always dreamt of having such a family", Manasi started to narrate her side of the story. She wasn't excited anymore, about the sparkling surroundings, dazzling milieu, any of that.  

"Will you carry the burden entire life, alone?", Kripa's words were ringing in her ears. And she had decided to clear the air. "When I was adopted from the orphanage, I was happy that my new family loves me. But their love lasted only till they'd their own baby. They educated me, and I'll be thankful for that, nevertheless I paid a price for it too. I did any and every chore I could. I slogged to study and do household work. I did every possible thing to make my foster parents happy. Yet, it was never enough.....Then...then I met you", Manasi looked at Vipul. 

He was all ears. "You taught me to laugh again. You taught me to drive. I reckoned that life's chaos was worth navigating, with you by my side. And thought, what else would happiness be! But I guess the curse of being an orphan stays with you life long. Your mother met me before the graduation and took a promise that I won't be with you, from then on. She thought that an orphan like me wouldn't make a good family. And that's why I said all those hurtful things to you, even though, I didn't mean them", Manasi had tears in her eyes. 

"My mother? She met you? Why did she do this? I'm her only son. How could she overturn my everything, my world?....", Vipul couldn't grasp the situation. He had been blaming and hating Manasi all these years. In some of his low times, he must've said awful things to her, in his mind. He had also planned a payback from her. Now he felt guilty. 

The ambience around was joyful, quite the contrast. Champagne glasses were clinking in the background. Fashion and glamour continued to unfurl. The store's staff, dressed in ethnic outfits approached Vipul and Manasi, to serve drinks. "Ma'am, Sir, the floor is open now. Couples are already dancing, do join in", one of them said. 

"Thankyou", Vipul said, as he chugged down two glasses of champagne. And before the staff left, he lifted two more glasses. "Why did you agree Manasi?", his eyes grew dull as he questioned.

"The last thing I would want was to separate a son from his mother Vipul. Family is important for me, but I would never break one to form a new one. How could I decline and hurt her, and end up grief-stricken for rest of my life? I broke a promise to keep the other. I did regret it when I went back home. It wasn't easy for me too. I loved you all along, Vipul, it wasn't something in a jiffy. We were both serious about our relationship. But I paid the price for the regret too. My foster parents married me off after my graduation", Manasi said, trying to wipe her tears, which weren't ready to cease.

Vipul chugged one more glass. Manasi looked at him, she wanted to stop him, but didn't know if she had the right to. She just exhaled heavily and continued to speak. 

"I got married to a complete stranger. Yet, I'd decided to be happy with the new family. My in-laws were good to me for few months and when I was expecting they started pestering me. 'It better be a boy' they said. I worked endlessly during my pregnancy too. I left my job, as I couldn't manage everything, along with my health. My Mother-in-law was agitated by that. They wanted my momey, also wanted me to complete housework. I was tired but whom could I complain to? My foster parents had already turned their back on me. I was just waiting for my baby Vipul. The one who would be mine, my own flesh and blood, my family", Manasi was literally drenched in her tears now. 

Vipul asked her not to cry. He chugged the remaining glass of champagne, furiously. He was self-frustrated and suddenly he lost his balance. In that inebriated condition, he kept murmuring, "Why did you leave me Manasi? Why did my mom do this?".

Manasi held his hand and rested his body against the wall. She looked around and thought that no one should see him like this. He had an image to keep up, in this industry. So she called the receptionist to get his residential address. She texted Kumar that she was leaving for an emergency, to attend to. And covertly, she escaped the event with Vipul. They reached the parking. She helped him sit in his car. "You'll see how my driving skills have improved, Vipul", Manasi said as she took the control of the steering wheel. 

They reached his house and Manasi helped him to walk. She was gasping but didn't let him go. She made him sit on the sofa of the living room. 

And Vipul, still in the intoxicated state, whispered in her ears, "Why did you leave your daughter? You said, family members don't hurt each other.....".

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a fictional story. Resemblance of any sort in real life is purely coincidental. If you like the story, comment and share, keep following for more!